Drinking cup



Apr. 24, 1923. 1,453,015

J. w. LAVIGNE DRINKING CUP original Filed oct. 12. 1920 iatent'ed lApr. 2:4, 1923.A l

UNITED STATES PATENT orrica.

JOSEPH W. LVIGNE', 0F WOBJESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

DRINKING CU P.

Application led October 12, 1920, Serial No. 416,500. Renewed February 27, 1923.

To allee/10m it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnnn a citizen of' the United States,'residing at Worcester. in the count of lVorcester and Stateof Massachusetts, ave invented a new and useful Drinking Cup, of which the following is a. specification.

This invention relates to a. drinking cup designed to serve also as a dispensing package. The principal objects thereof are to provide a device of the above-mentioned character adapted 'to receive inside it an envelope or package containing a quantity of powder or the like, as for example-a single dose of el'ervescing salts, a nd to have printed on its front surface a title and directions for taking the contents; and especially, to provide this in sealed form so that it can be kept for any length of time at the dispensing stand and can be sold as the contents are desired; and to provide it with means Whereby it can readily be converted into a drinking cup of convenient form. Y

The invention also involves the specific means by which it is converted `into such a drinking cup, consisting in the provision of a. double line of registering perforations through the front or advertising side of the receptacle, and through the flap which is pasted over the back. This is located across the top and is made of undulating form higher at the center than at the sides so that, when the top is pulled off, the upper surface of the drinking cup which is left will have a depression at each of the folded edges and an elevation at each side to facilitate itsuse as a drinking cup.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a preferredembodiment of this invention, shown in the condition in which it is displayed for sale but broken away to show the contents;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same, and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the article in condition for use as a drinking cup.

The invention is designed for use in the sale of any medicine or other compound that is intended to be dissolved in water when taken, but is particularly adaptable for effervescing salts.

It is shown in a form in which it involves a receptacle 10, preferably of water-repellent envelope having a height considerably' W. LAVIGNE,

greater than its'widthand provided with :i

flap 11 at the' top. 'This passes over on the back and is stuck down to seal'it. 'The front surface of the envelope preferably is provided with an advertisement as 12, and directions I3; It is intended to have sealed up 1n it a smaller envelope 14,'containing the compound to be dispensed.

Animportant feature of the invention conslsts in the mannerinvvhich a simple envelope of thiskind is converted into a drinking cup. This is done by the provision of ai double row of perforations 15 across the top, extending through the front wall l10 and the flap 11 and formed on a. curve or in an angular form so that it is higher at the center than it is at the folded edges 16 of the cup. The top 17 therefore, can be torn off along this line and the envelope 14 removed. Then the cup is. partly filled with water and the envelope 14 opened and its contents introduced. The package is intendedofcourse, to be used only once as a package and only once as a drinking cup.

The use of the receptacle as a drinking cup will be very obvious, even without the d1- rections. The cup is held naturally with the thumb against one edge 16 and the lingers against the other. This,y Wit-h the weight of the Water, spreads the opposite projections 18 apart and tlattens the edges 16, thus providing a depressed drinking slde 19 which is applied to the mouth. By providing` the lines of perforations in the manner above described, the upper edge of the drinking cup is made very convenient. The danger of spilling the contents over the sides is reduced by the projections 18 upwardly at the front and rear. This is a feature of importance in view of fact that it is intended to use these envelopes on railway trains where there is motion that ordinarily interferes with the use ,of a common shaped drinking cup. These dispensing articles can be made at comparatively small expense and the double use of the device practically renders it possible to get the drinking cup without any expense at all.

It will be obvious that this is an extremely neat and simple device for the purpose intended. The package is of a sim 1e form, easily put up and being substantlally dat, large numbers of them can be packed together conveniently. The front surface Yaii'ordsa convenient place to display the adthe goods. Thus these packages can be placed in soda fountains and on trains and in various public places, advertising the article and at the same time greatly accommodating lzhe public.,

Although l have illustrated and described only a. single form of the invention, l am aware of the fact that, modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art Without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claim. rhereore do not Wish to be limited to all the details herein shown and described, but what I do claim is: v

As an karicle of manufacure, a drinking remore cup formed of Water repellent paper open ei: the top, but having a gummed flap for use in sealing it, whereby it can serve as a substantially water-proof sealed receptacle, and having a line of perforations through the front thereoic and through the *flap to permit of the top being torn ofi to adapt it for use as a drinking cup, said line of perforetions being higher ai the center of Ehe front and rear than at the two edges, lo provide a depression at each edge of the rop of the cup.

ln testimony whereof il have hereunto aiixed my signature.

JOSEPH W. LVIGNE. 

